Poche Centre evaluation

Clinical services review 2012

An independent evaluation of the Poche Centre’s clinical services was undertaken in late 2012 by consultant Stephanie Pope. Her report details strong support by communities and health professionals for the clinical work of the Poche Centre, both in terms of the delivery model applied and the health outcomes being achieved for service recipients.Furthermore, her report states that the clinical initiatives undertaken should be regarded as a significant success, as they have made a real and valuable contribution to improved health outcomes for Aboriginal communities.

Importantly, Pope notes that Poche Centre staff and clinical placement personnel are universally praised for consulting closely and listening to the needs of the community. They are not just "fly in, fly out" providers following their own agenda.

The collaborative model established by the Poche Centre since its establishment has been proven to work effectively in identifying and addressing priority issues (such as gaps in service delivery), improving access to clinical services, expanding capacity through education, and focusing research in the area of Aboriginal health.

These encouraging findings demonstrate that the Poche Centre has established a solid foundation on which to build in the years ahead.

Allied health review

This review of allied health services was undertaken by the Poche Centre to provide a snapshot of the current situation and develop recommendations about expansion in each of the four areas of Poche Centre work over the next three years.

The Poche Centre review, 2012

A review of the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health was conducted in early 2012. Led by Professor Glenn Salkeld, Head of the School of Public Health, the review was undertaken in response to calls for the centre to have greater focus and strategy.

The review report states that the centre should seek to:

promote and support the entitlement of Indigenous people to have good health and life expectancy

embrace the core University value of 'engaged enquiry'build excellence in impact and outcome of the centre’s work as a foundation for attracting further philanthropic and government funding and support, and to increase the influence of the centre

focus on performing work to a high standard, concentrating on a few key goals while supporting others whose work is consistent with the goals of the centre.

The Poche Centre’s three-year strategy is informed by the Salkeld Review.